Early life

Hitman was born in Givat Shmuel to holocaust-survivor parents; his father was a cantor and his mother was secular. He was raised in a pluralistic environment. In 1963, he received his first guitar and taught himself to play and compose. When he turned 17, he received a piano from his grandmother. In the army he served as a combat soldier and later he joined an army band.

Career

His career began in 1976, when he composed a popular melody for Adon Olam. He became a popular Israeli artist during the 1980s and 1990s. He composed and wrote over 650 songs. His most famous songs include Noladati Lashalom (I Was Born for Peace), Ratziti Sheteda (I Wanted You to Know), Todah (Thank you), Mi yada' sh'kach yihiye (Who Knew It Would Be Like This) and Kan (Here), which reached 3rd place during the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Hitman also appeared on the 1980s children's programmes Parpar Nehmad and Hopa Hei.

He died after a heart attack at the age of 52. He was buried at the Yarkon Cemetery near Tel Aviv. The City of Ramat Gan renamed Kikar Hashoshanim (Roses Square) in his neighborhood of residence to Kikar Hitman (Hitman Square).